VOW 2019 Match of the Year (75-51)

The Voices of Wrestling 2019 Match of the Year countdown continues with matches 75 through 51 featuring deathmatches, Joshi, mainstream American wrestling and everything in-between!

2019 MATCH OF THE YEAR ARCHIVES

• Introduction & Honorable Mentions: voicesofwrestling.com/2020/02/03/vow-match-of-the-year-2019-introduction-sadness-village/
• Matches 100-76: voicesofwrestling.com/2020/02/04/vow-2019-match-of-the-year-100-76/

VOICES OF WRESTLING MATCH OF THE YEAR ARCHIVES

• 2018: voicesofwrestling.com/category/vow-latest/columns/2018-match-of-the-year/
• 2017: voicesofwrestling.com/category/vow-latest/columns/2017-match-of-the-year/
• 2016: voicesofwrestling.com/category/vow-latest/columns/2016-match-of-the-year/
• 2015: voicesofwrestling.com/category/vow-latest/columns/2015-match-of-the-year/
• 2014: voicesofwrestling.com/category/vow-latest/columns/2014-match-of-the-year/
• 2013: voicesofwrestling.com/category/vow-latest/columns/2013-match-of-the-year/
• 2012: voicesofwrestling.com/2012/12/20/top-10-matches-of-2012/

#75
Joey Janela vs. Kris Statlander
6/12
Beyond Wrestling

Overall Points: 18
Total Votes: 5
Highest Vote: 5th

“This match from Beyond Wrestling’s Uncharted Territory Season 1 had Kris Statlander square off against Joey Janela. The match ended up being one of the best matches of the premiere season. It was a star making performance from Kris Statlander as the two nearly killed eachother for 30 minutes. Insane match that you can watch on YouTube for FREE.” Luis Perez

#74
Will Ospreay vs Kota Ibushi
1/4
NJPW

Overall Points: 19
Total Votes: 4
Highest Vote: 4th

“This match would not only start off Will’s all time year with a banger, it would announce him as a main event caliber player in NJPW regardless of weight class. I had seen the ruthlessness and “strong style” out of Ibushi several times in the past, but I hadn’t seen it, at least to this level, out of Will. He and Ibushi absolutely delivered in a match that could headline any show in any promotion. HIDDEN EFFING BLADE!” Steve Case

#73
Momo Watanabe vs. Utami Hayashishita
4/5
Stardom

Overall Points: 19
Total Votes: 5
Highest Vote: 4th

“Stardom is a promotion that I love-hate. I hate the idol culture, their business practices, and their presentation. However, I love the matches and their wrestlers. This is why I plunked down money for front row tickets to the mania weekend Stardom show. While it wasn’t the main event, the top drawing match was the White Belt title match between QQ leader Momo and the Big Rookie and fellow QQ member Utami Hayashishita. Needless to say, the match didn’t disappoint. The crowd was invested and clearly were Stardom fans as a “Queen’s Quest” chant broke out almost immediately. In the lead up to the first Wrestlemania to be headlined by a women’s match, this was the best women’s match of the weekend.” Doug Fowler

#72
Masashi Takeda vs. Jimmy Lloyd
4/5
GCW

Overall Points: 19
Total Votes: 6
Highest Vote: 6th

“What these two wrestlers were able to do in just 9 minutes is incredible. If you wanna show anybody what Death Match wrestling is, this is the best match you can use. You had the icon, the carismatic Masashi Takeda in one corner, a wrestler that always gives 100% no matter his rival. In front of him, Jimmy Lloyd, a young and hungry wrestler that did all the crazy spots to gave the fans a true japanese death match wrestling experience. In under 10 minutes we were able to see all the “greatest hits” of both wrestlers, including scissors, lightubes, knives and even the infamous weed wacker. Also, this match gets extra points for me because I was live at White Eagle Hall and it was my first DM experience live. All I can say is that this was a religious experience.” Álex Giménez

#71
Boomer Hatfield vs. Dasher Hatfield
5/26
CHIKARA

Overall Points: 20
Total Votes: 2
1 First-Place Vote

“Father vs son for the rights to the family mask. Everything was against Boomer here, even with him coming off a fantastic rookie year. His father had size, strength, experience and Chikara’s Grand Championship. . This match is a perfect example of what good storytelling in wrestling can look like if though and care if put into it.” leon noel

#70
Dominic Garrini vs. Joshua Bishop
4/4
AIW

Overall Points: 20
Total Votes: 3
Highest Vote: 2nd

#69
Dylan James vs. Yuji Okabayashi
4/20
AJPW

Overall Points: 20
Total Votes: 4
Highest Vote: 4th

“Poor Dylan James. Going 30 minutes was already a pretty big ask for a guy his size. Then you unleash an insane Golem man on him, seemingly after 6 Monster Energy drinks, a picnic flask of coffee and enough whiskey that he wasn’t going to feel anything you hit him with. Then for good measure, half way through the match Big Yuji lariats Dylan with his fist right in the eye socket. Seemingly bracing for a lariat from the other arm, the New Zealander never saw it coming. His eye was DESTROYED. But he guts it out and puts on a legendary performance as he realises he basically needs to fight for his life here. This was wild!” Alan4L

#68
WALTER vs Pete Dunne
4/5
WWE (NXT)

Overall Points: 20
Total Votes: 5
Highest Vote: 4th

“WALTER’S first PPV match in WWE highlighted all his strengths as he gelled perfectly with Pete Dunne in a hard-hitting affair.” Steven Wilson

#67
Shoko Nakajima vs Yuka Sakazaki
11/3
DDT

Overall Points: 21
Total Votes: 2
1 First-Place Vote

“While this was on a DDT card, this was the biggest TJPW match in history and represented the culmination of the past 5 or so years of hard work from all involved. Sometimes derided as simply an ‘idol promotion’, TJPW’s cult following is more than simply aesthetics but an evolving house-style that combines mat grappling and impact moves with a fidelity towards match psychology and the idea that moves mean something. TJPW’s booking can often be predictable but going into this match it was impossible to predict a winner. As the pre match video showed, Yuka and Shoko have a long history as both partners and rivals and as two of the pillars of the promotion they were given the trust and the honour to represent TJPW at DDT’s show of the year, Ultimate Party. They more than lived up to expectations. This was smooth flowing and had the DDT audience on the edge of their seats by the climax. A treat.” Ewan Cameron

#66
Daniel Makabe vs. Timothy Thatcher
7/12
3-2-1 Battle

Overall Points: 22
Total Votes: 3
Highest Vote: 3rd

“Perhaps better viewed if you’ve seen the entire trilogy of matches, Makabe vs. Thatcher was an absolute clinic, and an example of how repeat matches perhaps ought to be played. Callback spots were thrown in there with the intention of showing how both guys had learned from prior mistakes, not to pop a crowd. If you have any affinity to wrestling that’s a) technical and b) looks real, this ought to have been on your list.” Ian Hamilton

#65
T-Hawk vs. Shuji Kondo
5/3
Wrestle-1

Overall Points: 23
Total Votes: 2
1 First-Place Vote

#64
Sami Callihan vs Tessa Blanchard
7/7
Impact Wrestling

Overall Points: 23
Total Votes: 3
Highest Vote: 2nd

“Both of these wrestlers are changing the pro wrestling industry as we know it. We all have seen an intergender match here and there, but to some, it doesn’t seem to stick with the public audience in terms of their investment. Impact made a bold move by showcasing intergender wrestling on TV, and Callihan and Blanchard delivered.” Brie Coder

#63
Shuji Ishikawa/Suwama vs. Daisuke Sekimoto/Yuji Okabayashi
1/13
BJW

Overall Points: 23
Total Votes: 5
Highest Vote: 2nd

“Strong BJ are such good babyfaces and Sekimoto has so far solidified his spot as the top wrestler of 2019. I loved the first part of this match, with Suwama heeling it up and Ishikawa being especially brutal. While Suwama and Sekimoto are busy on the outside, Ishikawa goes nuts on Okabayashi in the ring, slapping and headbutting him out. His elbows to Sekimoto in the corner = Sekimoto dead. They definitely milk the finishing comeback stretch but I didn’t mind it. Strong BJ are great working from underneath, and Violent Giants know how to dish out the offense. Love Ishikawa’s dragon suplex>giant knee combo. Okayabashi tries to save Sekimoto and gets backdrop suplexed to hell by Suwama. The big ass double German spot looked great here, and Sekimoto’s finishing suplex was impressive. This ruled. This whole show ruled. A super fun Korakuen show where everyone is working hard.” Brennan Patrick

#62
Johnny Gargano vs. Ricochet
1/26
WWE (NXT)

Overall Points: 23
Total Votes: 6
Highest Vote: 4th

“This one gets a live bump from me. Seeing Gargano finally win a singles title in NXT and watching him and Ricochet put together a well paced, high stakes match was a very fun way to begin my honeymoon.” Chris Samsa

#61
Jon Moxley vs. Juice Robinson
6/5
NJPW

Overall Points: 24
Total Votes: 4
1 First-Place Vote

“As soon as Dean Ambrose left WWE, everybody was excited about his future. However, nobody was expecting what was to come. It did not take long to see what the new and improved Jon Moxley was all about. His first match against Juice Robinson was probably the best match of both men’s career. It was intense, hard-hitting and exciting, and put a new main event player in the game.” Evandro Furtado

#60
NXT Women’s WarGames Match
11/23
WWE (NXT)

Overall Points: 25
Total Votes: 6
Highest Vote: 4th

“There were a lot of great character moments in this match, chief of which was Kai immediately turning on Nox and destroying her knee as soon as it was her time to enter the ring. That was excellently done, happening earlier and being a lot more brutal than I expected. KLR refusing to get tables from under the ring and taking down chair structures because she didn’t think the crowd deserved those things was also a delight. Ripley tearing through her opponents even as it caused collateral damage to her teammates solidified her as the division’s top star. Baszler looking on laughing at Kai and Nox was hilarious. Ripley & LeRae trying to hold their own when they were down 2-4 made them look great, and the weapons and cage made it almost believable. This turned out to be the best handicap match I can remember ever seeing (or at least tied with the Rock N’ Sock WrestleMania match). It was also better than the men’s WarJames matches from the last two years and the main event of the show it was on. The finish was absolutely beautiful; Shirai had taken out herself, Belair, and LeRae with a moonsault off of the cage, then Ripley wiped out KLR coming off of the top with a trash can swing, and then Ripley cuffed herself to Baszler and hit her with the Riptide onto a chair bridge for the win. It didn’t hurt that it was the shortest War Games match yet. There’s a lot to be said for being efficient.” Brad Garoon

#59
Arisa Hoshiki vs. Jungle Kyona
8/10
Stardom

Overall Points: 26
Total Votes: 5
1 First-Place Vote

“One of my absolute favourite matches I’ve seen live this year & I keep telling everyone who will listen to me how good it is. Hoshiki is one of the top breakout stars of 2019 and Kyona is an absolute workhorse. The Korakuen crowd was on tenterhooks for the entire match, an absolute gem of a match.” Sarah Flannery

#58
El Barbaro Cavernario vs. Titan
2/22
CMLL

Overall Points: 27
Total Votes: 4
1 First-Place Vote

“Everything good about lucha libre including 2/3 falls adding to a match. The pop when Titan wins the second fall, a complete given with a unique pinning combo is crazy. The third fall is absolutely nuts with both guys doing crazy stuff and an even cooler finish.” Mongo Underscore Ebooks

#57
Tetsuya Naito vs Kota Ibushi
3/10
NJPW

Overall Points: 27
Total Votes: 6
Highest Vote: 4th

“Ibushi vs. Naito is a perfect example of two guys that always bring out the best in each other. Ibushi not only moves on, but also lays claim to an IC Title shot in the future (and is getting it at the G1 Supercard). This was an absolutely amazing match, filled with fire, aggression, a molten crowd and two of the very best in the world delivering a match that could main event any show in the world. This is a must see MOTY contender.” Larry Csonka

#56
Will Ospreay vs A-Kid
3/30
WWW

Overall Points: 27
Total Votes: 6
Highest Vote: 3rd

“Seeing Ospreay live in 2019 was an experience that I’ll never forget. This is probably how ROH fans felt when they got to see names like Kenta Kobashi or Misawa live. The atmosphere elevated the match to high status, with local star A-Kid proving once more that he’s one of the top prospects in all of pro wrestling, but Ospreay was just out of this world.” Paco Silva

#55
PAC vs. Cara Noir
7/5
RIPTIDE

Overall Points: 27
Total Votes: 6
Highest Vote: 2nd

“The unique cinematic presentation made this match feel special from the get-go. It felt like some mish-mash of an underground fight club brawl and a post-modern ballet. Both men were smooth and quick, masterfully working the hot crowd. The standout clash was both Cara Noir’s coming-out party and a high point of a fabulous year for PAC.” Ryan Dilbert

#54
Chihiro Hashimoto vs Sareee
6/8
Sendai Girls

Overall Points: 29
Total Votes: 7
Highest Vote: 3rd

“From the first minute, this felt like a really big match, maybe the best in the trilogy between this women. Hashimoto tried to grapple and slow things down at the beginning, but Sareee destroyed her opponent with impressive strikes. They shared great chemistry throught the match, with a really fun dynamic and great exchanges. Hashimoto selling was flawless and Sareee’s intensity at the end help to improve the drama. Overall, it had everything to be considered one of the best matches of this year.” Gin Malkâvar

#53
Momo Watanabe vs Jungle Kyona
3/3
Stardom

Overall Points: 29
Total Votes: 8
Highest Vote: 2nd

“This match saw two incredible performances from both women. Momo was outstanding as the cocky champion most notably when she no-sold Jungle’s early leg work by repeatedly kicking her with the same leg. Jungle, who is already great, was just on another level here in her hometown. She was right there with Momo in terms of intensity and timing. Transitioning from working on Momo’s leg to her back when it was obvious that her leg work was not effective showed great ring psychology. The closing stretch was phenomenal with both ladies trading signature moves until the better woman won. This was hard-hitting and viscous at times but also very technical. Momo showed why she should be getting a monster push in this promotion and why she is one of the best wrestlers in the world.” Rene Martinez

#52
Shingo Takagi vs. SHO
5/13
NJPW

Overall Points: 30
Total Votes: 6
Highest Vote: 5th

“Just a step below the finals as SHO tried to slay the dragon that had been burning him the first half of 2019. This match worked because SHINGO wasn’t an untouchable monster, just a little bit too tough for SHO.” Matt McEwen

#51
Kazuchika Okada vs. Tomohiro Ishii
3/23
NJPW

Overall Points: 30
Total Votes: 6
Highest Vote: 2nd

“In many ways this feels like the forgotten great match of NJPW’s 2019 because it’s relatively early in the year, and the combined force of Will Ospreay and the G1 Climax seemed to dominate MOTY talk from the promotion, but make no mistake this was an excellent match. Being in the same faction for so many years and having matches with each other before hand, there was a real sense of familiarity to this match with both guys having great counters for each other’s work.” Ed Mills

VOW 2019 MATCH OF THE YEAR RESULTS (260-51)